European Stocks Struggle for Direction Ahead of ECB Monetary Policy Meeting

European stocks were looking for direction on Thursday, with investors eagerly awaiting the European Central Bank’s monetary policy meeting in Frankfurt and comments on the Russia-Ukraine conflict from NATO leaders meeting in Wales. In Frankfurt, Bilfinger SE slumped after the Mannheim-based construction and services company issued its third consecutive profit warning in as many months, while investors gave a lukewarm reaction to British builder Balfour Beatty plc’s plans to sell its professional services division, Parsons Brinckerhoff, to Canadian engineering company WSP Global Inc. for $1.24 billion in cash. In London, Standard Life plc rose after it unveiled a surprise agreement to sell its Canadian operations to Montreal-based Manulife Financial Corp. for about C$4 billion ($3.7 billion).